FaultScore

1999 Audi A4 steering problems

15 of the 242 complaints about the 1999 Audi A4 are about the steering — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 73,500 miles.

B

15

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

TIE ROD Assembly 7 46.7%
Connecting 4 26.7%
Rack AND Pinion 2 13.3%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 1 6.7%
Steering 1 6.7%

Steering across every Audi A4 year

1996 11 14.9%
1998 23 31.1%
1999 15 20.3%
2009 15 20.3%
2013 10 13.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 79,000 miles Honolulu, HI

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIE ROD. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V248000 (STEERING;LINKAGES;ROD:RELAY;CONNECTING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA complaint #10251841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,861 miles Park Ridge, IL

STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

I HAVE BEEN NOTICING RATTLE ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDES WHEEL AREA. I TOOK THE CAR TO MCGRATH AUDI IN GLENVIEW IL FOR INSPECTION, AND HAD SINCE RECIEVED RECALL NOTICE RELATING TO TIE ROD PROBLEMS. DECEMBER 2004 DEALER FOUND NO NEED FOR REPLACEMENT. I THEN NOTIFIED THEM ABOUT THE RECALL, THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ONE ,AND THAT THEY FOUND NO NEED TO REPLACE THE TIE RODS AND THAT I COULD DO SO AT MY EXPENSE WHEN I INSISTED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIE RODS (BOTH SIDES) SINCE THIS RECALL AND AM REQUESTING MANUFACTUR REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10191795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sterling, VA

STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

ON 11/10/2006, DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACE DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE TIE-RODS (BOOTS TORN). DEALER/MANUFACTURER DENIED THAT THE RECALL AFFECTED MY CAR. PLEASE HELP. HERE ARE MORE DETAILS OF THE RECALL : AUTO RECALL DATE: 09/13/1999 VEHICLE COMPONENT: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING ESTIMATED VEHICLES AFFECTED: 51900 1999 AUDI A4 DEFECT SUMMARY: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY. DEFECT CONSEQUENCE: IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS. NOTES: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC, UL/KW .

NHTSA complaint #10183229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,500 miles Malden, MA

STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE ALSO WANDERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, REQUIRING THE CONTACT TO MAINTAIN SOME EXERTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TIE ROD HAD FAILED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #99V248000, WHICH PERTAINED TO THE STEERING LINKAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10169518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,378 miles Alpharetta, GA

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

1999 A4 BROKEN TIE RODS.

NHTSA complaint #10146856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,440 miles Marblehead, MA

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

DT: AUDI NORTH AMERICA REFUSESDTO DISCUSS OR ACKNOWLEDGE A RECALL THAT MAY BE AFFECTING THE OWNERS VEHICLE. THE OWNER IDENTIFIED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS FAULTY THROUGH STATE INSPECTION. AND THAT WAS VISIBLE BY VIBRATING THE WHEEL. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND YESTERDAY BY STATE INSPECTORS ON THE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION. THE OWNER HAD NOT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ANY DIFFERENT. THE OWNER FOUND IT THROUGH STATE INSPECTION. THE OWNER HAS BEEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND CHECKED FOR RECALLS. CONTACTED AUDI. AND THEY REFUSED TO TALK ABOUT IT ABOUT BECAUSE THE OWNERS SERIAL NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUSED WAS THE EXACT SAME THING THAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE OWNER'S CAR. THE OWNER DID NOT HAVE THIS CORRECTED YET, BUT WASHAVING HIS OWN MECHANIC FIX IT. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS FAULTY. THIS HAPPENED ON THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2005. THIS WAS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT.

NHTSA complaint #10125584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Saint Louis, MO

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V248000 CONCERNING TIE ROD END SEAL FAILURE. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VIBRATED SEVERELY ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS RECALL WAS NOT IN THEIR DATA BASE.

NHTSA complaint #10113486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,000 miles Columbus, OH

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10072152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kendall Park, NJ

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

NHTSA#00-V-414-000; PASSENGER VEHICLES. TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10022767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Glastonbury, CT

STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 010 V 414 000 , HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10017498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glastonbury, CT

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR 60,000 MILES - WORN TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS REPORTED. CALLED MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. NHTSA SAYS THERE ARE RECALLS. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10014256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Shrewsbury, MA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL. *JB....

NHTSA complaint #10015084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,000 miles Carmel, NY

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WE OWN AN AUDI A4 THAT WE HAVE HAD TOO MANY REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS NEEDED A TURBO AT 55,000 MILES, OIL PUMP AT 63,000 MILES, IGNITION COMPUTER AT 68,000 MILES AND RACK AND PINION STEERING AT 73,000 MILES. WE ARE AWARE THAT THE CAR IS AT HIGH MILEAGE, BUT THIS CAR IS SUPPOSE TO GET 200,000 MILES OUT OF IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT DEALERS THE ENTIRE TIME. WE THINK THAT PERHAPS THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THE CAR THAT OTHER DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING.

NHTSA complaint #10005491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oakton, VA

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V414, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT SAT FOR THREE DAYS WITH NO REPAIRS MADE, RECALL REPAIRS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED.

NHTSA complaint #561426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

GIG Harbor, WA Crash

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY, BUT CONSUMER FELT THAT RECALL ON TIE ROD COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #885525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 Audi A4 problems

← Full 1999 Audi A4 report